Unveiling the Ultimate Dark Matter Map: Discovering Unprecedented Cosmic Structures

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Dark Matter Distribution: Hubble vs. James Webb

Credit: Dr. Gavin Leroy/Professor Richard Massey/COSMOS-Webb Collaboration

dark matter distribution — Dark Matter Distribution: Hubble vs. James Webb

Credit: Dr. Gavin Leroy/Professor Richard Massey/COSMOS-Webb Collaboration

In a groundbreaking study, scientists leveraged subtle distortions in the shapes of over 250,000 galaxies to construct the most detailed dark matter map to date, paving the way for insights into some of the universe’s greatest enigmas.

Dark matter, elusive by nature, does not emit any detectable light. Its existence can only be inferred through its gravitational interactions with normal matter. Researchers, including Jacqueline McCreary from Northeastern University, utilized the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to map a region of the sky larger than the full moon.

“This high-resolution image depicts the scaffold of a small segment of the universe,” noted McCreary. The new map boasts double the resolution of previous ones created by the Hubble Space Telescope, encompassing structures much farther away.

The researchers studied approximately 250,000 galaxies, noting that their shapes, while interesting, serve primarily as a backdrop for understanding gravitational distortions. As Liliya Williams from the University of Minnesota explained, “These galaxies merely act as the universe’s wallpaper.” The critical component is the way dark matter’s gravitational pull warps the light from these distant galaxies—a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. The more distorted the shape of these galaxies is from a perfect circle, the greater the amount of dark matter situated between us and them.

By analyzing these optical distortions, the team was able to derive a map illustrating massive galaxy clusters and the cosmic web filaments linking them. Many of these newly identified structures deviate from prior observations of luminous matter, suggesting they are predominantly composed of dark matter. “Gravitational lensing is one of the few and most effective techniques for detecting these structures across vast regions,” Williams stated.

This research is significant, considering that dark matter constitutes about 85% of the universe’s total matter, crucial for the formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters. Understanding its distribution could shed light on its behavior and composition, according to Williams.

“This achievement is not just observational but also paves the way for various analyses, including constraints on cosmological parameters, the relationship between galaxies and their dark matter halos, and their growth and evolution over time,” McCreary highlighted. These parameters include the strength of dark energy, the enigmatic force driving the universe’s accelerating expansion.

While initial findings from the JWST map align with the Lambda CDM model of the universe, McCreary emphasizes that a thorough analysis of the data is still required to unearth new insights. “At first glance, it appears consistent with Lambda CDM, but I remain cautious. A final assessment will depend on complete results.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

2-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Offers Unprecedented Insights into Homo habilis

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A recently unearthed partial skeleton from the Koobifora Formation in northern Kenya provides paleoanthropologists with the most comprehensive insight into Homo habilis—one of the earliest human ancestors. This specimen highlights the significant physical differences between Homo habilis and later humans like Homo erectus.

Facial reconstruction of Homo habilis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes.

This newly discovered partial skeleton, cataloged as KNM-ER 64061, represents the most complete remains of Homo habilis to date.

Dating back approximately 2 million years, this fossil was found in the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Formation near Illeret, Kenya.

The specimen was discovered alongside KNM-ER 64060, which consists of a nearly complete set of teeth and jaw fragments attributed to Homo habilis.

Geological, taphonomic, and geochemical analyses suggest that the teeth and postcranial bones likely belonged to the same individual.

Researchers refer to these finds as a “possible fourth individual” of Homo habilis, marking a rare combination of diagnostic tooth remains and associated postcranial bones preserved in the early Pleistocene fossil record.

“Currently, there are only three other fragmentary and incomplete skeletons known of this significant species,” stated Professor Fred Grein from Stony Brook University.

The KNM-ER 64061 skeleton includes the humerus, both the radius and ulna, parts of the shoulder girdle, and pelvic and sacral fragments, among other elements.

Although no leg bones were recovered, the pelvic characteristics suggest that the mechanics of the lower limbs are more akin to later members of Homo than to earlier australopiths.

Interestingly, the upper limbs indicate a more primitive adaptation. The forearm is relatively long compared to the upper arm, a pattern identified as high brachial index, suggesting that Homo habilis is closer to early humans than to Homo erectus.

The arm bones exhibit unusually thick cortical bones, a trait reminiscent of australopiths and other early Homo fossils.

Based on the length of the humerus, scientists estimate that this individual stood around 1.6 meters tall.

The estimated weight ranges from 30.7 to 32.7 kg, significantly lighter than other known Homo habilis specimens and smaller in comparison to estimates for Homo erectus.

“The upper limbs of Homo habilis are notably more pronounced, indicating that KNM-ER 64061 possessed longer and stronger arms,” remarked Dr. Ashley Hammond from the American Museum of Natural History, the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology, and the Avanta Catalunya de Recerca Institute.

“However, the dimensions and proportions of the lower limbs remain elusive.”

“Further discoveries of lower limb fossils from Homo habilis may reshape our understanding of this important species.”

These findings reinforce the view that Homo habilis displayed a mosaic of ancestral and derived traits.

While skeletal features suggest a locomotion style resembling modern humans, the overall body proportions and smaller size imply that this early species had not yet developed the larger, heavier body types seen in later humans.

Between approximately 2.2 million and 1.8 million years ago, multiple hominid species existed in eastern Africa, including Paranthropus boisei, Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and possibly early Homo erectus.

This new skeleton underscores that Homo habilis occupied a distinct evolutionary niche among these species, both physically and genetically.

“To our knowledge, the Homo habilis partial skeleton exhibits a postcranial anatomy that diverges from other members of our genus, such as Homo rudolfensis, whose characteristics remain largely unidentified,” the authors stated.

Their research paper was published online on January 13, 2026, in Anatomical Records.

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Frederick E. Gline et al. discovered a new partial skeleton of Homo habilis from the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Fora Formation in Illeret, Kenya. Anatomical Records published online on January 13, 2026. doi: 10.1002/ar.70100

Source: www.sci.news

NASA Executes Unprecedented Medical Evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS)

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Team to the International Space Station

SpaceX

In a historic event, astronauts have been evacuated from the International Space Station (ISS) for medical reasons for the first time. The specific medical condition has not been disclosed to maintain privacy, and the astronaut affected remains unnamed. However, four of the seven crew members aboard the ISS returned to Earth ahead of schedule.

The returning astronauts are part of the Crew-11 mission, which launched on August 1 and was initially scheduled to conclude in late February. During a press conference on January 8, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that nearly all mission objectives had been achieved, enabling an early return.

“This is not an emergency evacuation; the astronaut is stable,” stated NASA’s Chief Medical Officer James Polk. Isaacman further emphasized that while emergency medical evacuation was possible within hours, the actual crew evacuation would occur within days.

Although medical incidents aboard the ISS are not unprecedented, they have typically been manageable in orbit. “The ISS is equipped with robust medical facilities, but it lacks the comprehensive resources of an emergency department,” Polk explained. The severity of this recent incident necessitated that the crew return to Earth for complete medical assessment.

The four Crew-11 members (including two NASA astronauts, one Russian, and one Japanese astronaut) will return via the Dragon spacecraft that transported them to the ISS, despite only one experiencing a medical issue. Preparations are in place at Earth-based medical facilities to ensure affected crew members receive the necessary care. While the situation is without precedent, Isaacman assured that the return process aligns closely with regular protocols.

“Historical models over the last 25 years suggest medical evacuations should occur approximately every three years, yet this is the first such instance,” Polk remarked.

Following this evacuation, a NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts will continue their research aboard the ISS until the Crew-12 mission arrives, originally planned for February 15, but potentially rescheduled due to this incident.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SPHEREx: Mapping the Entire Sky in Infrared for Unprecedented Cosmic Insights

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectrophotometer for the Exploration of the History of the Universe, Era of Reionization, and Ice) space telescope has successfully created the first comprehensive 102-color infrared map of the entire sky, utilizing observations collected from May to December 2025. While these 102 infrared wavelengths are invisible to the human eye, their widespread presence in the universe enables scientists to tackle significant questions, such as understanding monumental events on Earth. The milliseconds following the Big Bang profoundly influenced the 3D distribution of billions of galaxies. Furthermore, this invaluable data will aid in studying the evolution of galaxies over the universe’s 13.8 billion-year history and analyzing the distribution of essential life ingredients within our Milky Way galaxy.

This infrared image from SPHEREx features color emissions from stars (blue, green, and white), hot hydrogen gas (blue), and cosmic dust (red). Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The Earth completes approximately 14.5 rotations in a single day. Spherex travels from north to south, crossing over both poles.

Each day, SPHEREx captures around 3,600 images along a defined circular path in the sky. As time progresses and the planets orbit the sun, SPHEREx’s observational field shifts accordingly.

After six months, the observatory managed to explore the cosmos, capturing a full 360 degrees of the sky.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California oversees this mission, which commenced sky mapping in May and achieved its inaugural all-sky mosaic in December.

Over its two-year primary mission, SPHEREx plans to conduct three additional all-sky scans, merging these maps to enhance measurement sensitivity.

Dr. Sean Domagal Goldman, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters, remarked, “It’s astounding that SPHEREx has gathered such a wealth of data in just six months. This information, combined with data from other missions, provides deeper insights into the universe.”

“We essentially have 102 new maps of the entire sky, each featuring distinct wavelengths and delivering unique information about celestial objects.”

“Astronomers will find valuable insights here, as NASA’s mission will facilitate answers to fundamental questions regarding the universe’s beginnings and its evolution, ultimately shedding light on our position within it.”

“SPHEREx is a medium-sized astrophysics mission delivering groundbreaking science,” stated Dave Gallagher, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“This remarkable project exemplifies how bold ideas can transform into reality, unlocking immense potential for groundbreaking discoveries.”

Every one of the 102 colors detected by SPHEREx corresponds to a wavelength of infrared light, each of which conveys unique information about galaxies, stars, planet-forming regions, and other cosmic phenomena.

For instance, dense dust clouds in our galaxy, where stars and planets are born, shine brightly at specific wavelengths but remain completely invisible at others.

This separation of light into its component wavelengths is known as spectroscopy.

While prior missions, including NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Surveyor, have mapped the entire sky, none have achieved the same diversity of colors as SPHEREx.

In contrast, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope can perform spectroscopy at significantly longer wavelengths than SPHEREx, but its field of view is thousands of times smaller.

The diversity of colors combined with a wide observational field is what renders SPHEREx exceptionally powerful.

“The true superpower of SPHEREx lies in its ability to capture the entire sky in 102 colors approximately every six months,” declared SPHEREx Project Manager Beth Fabinski, Ph.D., of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“It’s incredible how much information we can collect in a short timeframe.”

“This makes us akin to telescopic mantis shrimps, equipped with an extraordinary polychromatic visual detection system capable of observing a vast area around us.”

Source: www.sci.news

Unprecedented Acceleration in Antarctic Glacier Retreat

Posted on November 3, 2025 by

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Hectoria Glacier’s terminus in February 2024 after an unprecedented fast retreat

Naomi Ochiwat

Researchers have observed what is thought to be the quickest retreat of Antarctic glaciers recorded in contemporary times.

The Hectoria Glacier, located in the Antarctic Peninsula, has receded by 25 km in just 15 months, resulting in a collapse rate that could be up to ten times faster than current documentation suggests.

Naomi Ochiwat, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and her team attribute this rapid decline to structural weaknesses within Hectoria, particularly as its slender trunk retreated across a flat section of the ocean floor, referred to as an ice plain. This situation has led to uncontrolled iceberg formation.

Scientists express concerns that this collapse mechanism could endanger other Antarctic glaciers, potentially leading to significant effects on sea level rise.

“The pressing question is: Was the situation with Hectoria an isolated incident resulting from a unique set of circumstances, or could it indicate a broader disaster waiting to occur in other areas?” Ochiwat comments.

The issues facing Hectoria began in early 2022 when a section of sea ice detached from the front of the glacier, leading to the collapse of its floating ice tongue. The loss of this stabilizing ice subjected the glacier to new pressures, accelerating its flow and thinning.

However, the most striking alteration took place on the ice field, where the trunk of Hectoria, which had been secured on stable bedrock, appeared to thin considerably, leaving most of it barely resting on the ocean floor.

Researchers noted that the entire section lifted almost instantly, revealing vulnerabilities within the trunk and initiating destruction. The buoyant force fragmented the iceberg, resulting in what was termed a “glacial earthquake,” which was detected by seismic instruments. The glacier lost 8 km in length during November and December of 2022.

Satellite imagery showing Hectoria Glacier’s terminus on October 26, 2022 (left) and February 23, 2023

Copernicus/ESA

Team members, including Ted Scambos, another professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, described the rapid deterioration as “astonishing,” cautioning that this retreat could alter the dynamics of significant glaciers across the continent.

Nonetheless, this viewpoint has sparked debate. Fraser Christie from Airbus Defense and Space remarked on the “substantial disagreements” among glaciologists regarding whether Hectoria was fully contacting the bedrock, citing a lack of precise satellite data.

Anna Hogg, a researcher from the University of Leeds in the UK, stated that their findings indicated the ice in the claimed ice field was consistently “entirely floating,” thus rejecting the notion of collapse due to buoyancy.

Christine Batchelor, a professor at Newcastle University in the UK, also expressed skepticism about the team’s explanation. “If this ice was genuinely floating, as has been widely discussed, the news would simply be ‘Ice shelf calves iceberg,’ which is relatively common,” she noted.

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Climate Change/
Antarctica

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Free-Floating Exoplanets Are Growing at Unprecedented Rates

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Cha J11070768-7626326 (shortened to Cha 1107-7626), a young and isolated exfoliating planet five to ten times the mass of Jupiter, has undergone a remarkable “growth spurt,” accumulating approximately 600 million tons of gas and dust within just a few months in the new sulse.

Artists’ impressions of Xplanet CHA 1107-7626 floating freely. Image credits: ESO/L. Kalsada/M. Kornmesser.

Located approximately 620 light years from the constellation Chamaeleon, Cha 1107-7626 is a free-floating exoplanet still in formation, drawing material from a gas and dust surrounding disc.

This material consistently falls onto planets, a process known as acquisition.

By August 2025, CHA 1107-7626 had increased its accretion rate to about eight times faster than just a few months prior, reaching an astonishing 6 billion tons per second.

“While it is often thought that planets are quiet and stable, this discovery shows that planetary mass objects drifting in space can be incredibly dynamic,” says Dr. Víctor Almendros-Abad.

“We have observed this newly forming illicit planet devouring material at a fierce pace,” remarked Ray Jayawardana, a professor at Johns Hopkins University.

“Our ongoing monitoring over recent months, utilizing two of the most powerful telescopes on Earth and in space, has provided us with rare insight into the infant stages of isolated objects not much larger than Jupiter.”

“Their early existence appears to be significantly more turbulent than previously conceived.”

“This represents the most intense accretion episode ever documented for planetary mass objects,” added Dr. Almendros-Abad.

The discovery was made using the X-Shooter spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) operated by ESO in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Astronomers also employed data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, as well as archived data from the SINFONI Spectrograph of the VLT.

“The origins of illicit planets remain an open question: are they the lowest mass objects that form like stars, or are they giant planets ejected from their birth systems?” queried Dr. Alex Scholz, an astronomer at St. Andrews University.

Results suggest that at least some illicit planets may follow formation pathways similar to stars, as analogous bursts have been previously observed in younger stellar bodies.

“This finding blurs the line between stars and planets, offering a glimpse into the earliest formation periods of these objects,” states Dr. Belinda Damien, an astronomer at St. Andrews University.

By comparing the light emitted before and after the burst, astronomers gathered insights into the nature of the accretion process.

Interestingly, magnetic activity seems to contribute to driving this intense process.

This indicates that even low-mass objects can possess strong magnetic fields capable of fueling such accretion events.

The team also discovered that the chemistry of the surrounding discs changes during accretion episodes, with water vapor detected in the steam.

This phenomenon has been noted in stars but not previously observed in any type of planet.

“We are beginning to understand how the early life of a free-floating planetary mass object resembles that of a sun-like star,” stated Professor Jayawardana.

“Our recent discoveries emphasize this similarity, suggesting that some giant planet-like objects may form in a manner akin to stars and experience growth episodes similar to newborn stars as they accumulate gas and dust with their own discs.”

The team’s paper was published today in the Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Victor Almendros-Abad et al. 2025. Discovery of accretion bursts on free-floating planetary mass objects. apjl 992, L2; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae09a8

Source: www.sci.news

U.S. Rivers Face Unprecedented and Severe Impacts from Global Warming

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Rivers across the United States are experiencing increasing temperatures.

A recent analysis of nearly 1,500 river locations spanning over 40 years reveals a rise in the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, posing risks to many species accustomed to cooler waters.

“The increase in river heat waves is actually outpacing that of air heat waves, which is quite surprising,” states Li Li, a professor of environmental engineering at Pennsylvania State University and the study’s author.

A new analysis published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is the first comprehensive study defining river heat waves as five consecutive hot days compared to seasonal averages.

The researchers identified climate change, which significantly impacts humans, as a major contributor to this trend, due to diminishing snowpacks and slower stream flows.

Human factors also play a role; for example, dams inhibit downstream flow, while urban structures absorb heat, warming both air and water.

Scientists are concerned that species reliant on cold water, such as salmon and trout, will increasingly struggle as river temperatures rise. Li emphasizes the necessity of tracking fish fatalities and ongoing trends.

Higher temperatures decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen in water. Additionally, cold water species generally exhibit increased metabolism in warmer conditions, leading to further oxygen depletion.

These findings could influence basin management strategies and help determine if adjustments in irrigation or dam releases can support aquatic life during elevated temperatures.

“Water management practices can significantly impact heat waves,” noted Jonathan Walter, a research scientist at UC Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences, who was not part of the study. “If there is sufficient reservoir water, it may be feasible to moderate downstream temperatures by releasing water to mitigate extreme heat.”

While heat waves in oceans and lakes have been studied extensively, there has been limited research on the implications of rising temperatures in rivers until now.

Satellite data have advanced the study of ocean and lake heat, but river temperature research is challenged by reliance on often unusable river gauge sensors, resulting in significant data gaps.

For this new study, researchers analyzed data from 1,471 US Geological Survey monitoring sites from 1980 to 2022.

This data enabled an assessment of shifts in streams nationwide, revealing that by 2022, river heat waves were occurring more frequently than in 1980, with an average increase of 1.8 additional heatwave events per year. These heat waves were also more severe, with temperatures during these events being approximately 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit higher in 2022 than in 1980. Moreover, the duration of heat wave events extended by over three days.

Li noted that this extra heat caused an average of about 12 days of heat stress for cold water species. The study defined 59°F as the threshold for heat stress, as many species, including bull trout, face survival challenges at this temperature.

“When considering water, its visibility draws attention to its significance,” Li remarked. “We hope this research raises public awareness on water quality challenges stemming from climate change.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Unprecedented Arctic Heat Wave Melts 1% of Svalbard’s Ice

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Svalbard experienced unprecedented heatwaves in the summer of 2024

Xinhua Newsletter/Shutterstock

During the summer of 2024, six weeks of exceptional heat resulted in significant ice melt on Svalbard, an island in the Arctic. By summer’s end, 1% of the archipelago’s land ice had vanished, contributing to a global sea level rise of 0.16 mm.

“It was incredibly startling,” said Thomas Schuler from the University of Oslo, Norway. “This wasn’t just a minor record; the melt was nearly double the previous highs.”

Over half of Svalbard is covered in ice. Snowfall during winter contributes to the ice, while summertime sees glacial currents flowing into the ocean and surface, resulting in ice retreat.

Schuler’s team utilizes a combination of field measurements, satellite imagery, and computer simulations to assess changes in the total ice mass of the archipelago.

Since 1991, summers have typically seen the melting of Gigatonnes of ice. However, four of the last five years have recorded new highs in summer ice loss. Last summer alone, approximately 62 Gigatonnes melted, predominantly due to surface melting, not ice flowing into the ocean.

In 2024, Schuler and his colleagues observed land rising by a record 16mm at one location, consistent with predictions of ice loss.

This extraordinary melting results from record high air temperatures. The average August temperature reached 11°C (52°F), compared to about 7°C (45°F) in recent decades. This extreme phenomenon stemmed from warm ocean temperatures and persistent weather patterns bringing warm winds from the south, coupled with a dramatic increase in global warming.

While such severe summer heat is currently rare, climate models predict that as global temperatures rise, similar events will become more common. Indeed, even under low emissions scenarios, over half of the summers leading to 2100 could surpass this temperature threshold.

Schuler’s team has yet to predict future ice loss under various emission scenarios. Although winter snowfall is expected to increase slightly as the atmosphere becomes more humid, it will not be sufficient to counterbalance the significantly larger summer melting.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Universal Detectors Identify AI Deepfake Videos with Unprecedented Accuracy

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Deepfake video showcasing Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on a smartphone

Australia’s Associated Press/Alamy

Universal DeepFake Detectors have demonstrated optimal accuracy in identifying various types of videos that have been altered or entirely produced by AI. This technology can assist in flagging adult content, deepfake scams, or misleading political videos generated by unregulated AI.

The rise of accessible DeepFake Creation Tools powered by inexpensive AI has led to rampant online distribution of synthetic videos. Numerous instances involve non-consensual depictions of women, including celebrities and students. Additionally, deepfakes are utilized to sway political elections and escalate financial scams targeting everyday consumers and corporate leaders.

Nevertheless, most AI models designed to spot synthetic videos primarily focus on facial recognition. This means they excel in identifying a specific type of deepfake where a person’s face is swapped with existing footage. “We need a single video with a manipulated face and a model capable of detecting background alterations or entirely synthetic videos,” states Rohit Kundu from the University of California Riverside. “Our approach tackles that particular issue, considering the entire video could be entirely synthetically produced.”

Kundu and his team have developed a universal detector that leverages AI to analyze both facial features and various background elements within the video. It can detect subtle signs of spatial and temporal inconsistencies in deepfake content. Consequently, it identifies irregular lighting conditions for people inserted into face-swapped videos, as well as discrepancies in background details of fully AI-generated videos. The detector can even recognize AI manipulation in synthetic videos devoid of human faces, and it flags realistic scenes in video games like Grand Theft Auto V, independent of AI generation.

“Most traditional methods focus on AI-generated facial videos, such as face swaps and lip-synced content.” says Siwei Lyu from Buffalo University in New York. “This new method is broader in its applications.”

The universal detector reached an impressive accuracy rate of 95% to 99% in recognizing four sets of test videos featuring manipulated faces. This performance surpasses all previously published methods for detecting this type of deepfake. In evaluations of fully synthetic videos, it yielded more precise results than any other detectors assessed to date. Researcher I presented their findings at the 2025 IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 15th.

Several researchers from Google also contributed to the development of these new detectors. Though Google has not responded to inquiries regarding whether this detection method would be beneficial for identifying deepfakes on platforms like YouTube, the company is among those advocating for watermarking tools that help label AI-generated content.

The universal detectors have room for future enhancements. For instance, it would be advantageous to develop capabilities for detecting deepfakes utilized during live video conference calls—a tactic some scammers are now employing.

“How can you tell if the individual on the other end is genuine or a deepfake-generated video, even with network factors like bandwidth affecting the transmission?” asks Amit Roy-Chowdhury from the University of California Riverside. “This is a different area we’re exploring in our lab.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unprecedented Ocean Heat Waves Could Signal Lasting Changes in Our Seas

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Warming oceans might elevate storm intensity, exemplified by Hurricane Milton in 2024

NOAA

Scientists have cautioned that the extreme ocean temperatures observed since 2023 could indicate the onset of drastic changes in global marine conditions, posing a severe risk to life on our planet.

Historic ocean heat waves unfolded in the North Atlantic and Pacific in 2023, marked by their unprecedented severity, duration, and geographical spread, many persisting for over a year.

These heat waves have led to record-high sea surface temperatures globally in 2023 and 2024, contributing to severe weather patterns on land and resulting in back-to-back years being declared the hottest on record.

“While there’s been a gradual increase in ocean temperatures over the past 40-50 years, 2023 stands out as a pivotal year, with significant ocean heat waves impacting numerous regions,” stated Matthew England from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Sea surface temperatures worldwide remain at alarming heights, with the Mediterranean currently experiencing marine heat waves, as water temperatures exceed 5°C (9°F) during this time.

Researchers are concerned that the oceans may be shifting to new, hotter states, endangering their predictions for both short-term weather phenomena like hurricanes and long-term climate change trends.

To understand the situation, Zhenzhong Zeng from China’s Southern University of Science and Technology is collaborating with colleagues to pinpoint the causes of the 2023 global ocean heat wave by analyzing heat movement within the ocean, wind patterns, and ocean currents. They found that reduced cloud cover significantly increases solar radiation reaching the water, compounded by weak winds and the influence of the warming El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean.

Considering the heat wave that began in earnest in 2023 and continues in various regions, Zeng suggests this could be the start of a “new normal” for the world’s oceans. He notes that new data reveals an exponential rise in ocean heat, contradicting previous climate model forecasts.

Persistently elevated water temperatures severely impact marine ecosystems, heightening the risk of coral reef collapse, causing mass die-offs, and leading to shifts in marine species distributions. This also exacerbates heating on land, resulting in intensified droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, and storms.

Zeng expressed that he is “very alarmed” by this potential sea regime change, adding, “I believe nearly all predictions made by Earth System models are incorrect.”

Conversely, some experts argue that it may be premature to declare fundamental shifts in ocean dynamics. Neil Holbrook from the University of Tasmania in Australia points out that there is currently no “clear evidence” to indicate we have reached a critical turning point, given the limited years of data to assess. “I cannot predict what will happen next year; [ocean temperatures] could return to more typical patterns,” he remarked.

However, Holbrook stressed that without substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, “marine heat waves will likely continue to gain intensity and duration, potentially escalating faster than various marine species can adapt.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unprecedented: The Challenges Linda Jaccarino Faced with Elon Musk’s X

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In May 2023, when NBC’s advertising executive Linda Yaccarino took the reins at what was then known as Twitter, she faced a daunting challenge: rebuilding advertiser relationships following a tumultuous year under Elon Musk’s ownership. Yet, just weeks into her CEO tenure, Musk’s Anti-Semitism Tweet prompted major brands like Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros to pause advertising on the platform. Musk later expressed regret over the tweet during a meeting, labeling it as his worst post ever, but the damage was done, particularly with advertisers, including Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, who stated emphatically, “Fuck yourself.” Yaccarino was in attendance.

“I don’t want to promote them,” he said. “If anyone is trying to blackmail me with ads or money, fuck yourself. Go, fuck. yourself,” he added. “Is that clear? Hey Bob, if you’re in the audience, that’s how I feel.”

Yaccarino had to navigate Musk’s unpredictability, ongoing content moderation challenges, hate speech incidents, strained advertiser relationships, and significant backlash related to Donald Trump’s administration involvement. In some instances, her response was to remain quiet, while in others, she opted to protect the company. Experts suggest it became apparent that Yaccarino was merely a titular CEO.

“The reality is that Elon Musk is at the helm of X,” stated Mike Proulx, Research Director at Forrester. “From the outset, it was evident that she was set up for limited success as the company’s CEO. Her background and actual authority positioned her more as the chief advertising officer than the CEO.”

Even her de facto role as the chief advertising director was hindered by Musk’s incessant posting, impulsive decisions, and his fixation on what he deemed “woke” ideologies, posing a significant challenge for Yaccarino.

“The surprising aspect of Linda Yaccarino’s resignation is that it didn’t come sooner,” Proulx remarked.

Just this week, Grok, an AI chatbot integrated with X, shared multiple anti-Semitic comments glorifying Hitler after the introduction of new guidelines for the chatbot. According to regulations issued by Xai, Grok was instructed to make politically incorrect claims as long as they were “well-proven.” Xai removed these guidelines from the code shortly thereafter.

Yaccarino’s tenure at the helm of X has been marred by the fallout from anti-Semitism scandals involving Musk’s tweets and Grok, compounded by several accusations of anti-Semitism against her boss during her brief tenure. In 2023, the non-profit watchdog Center for Countering Digital Hate released a report detailing the increase of anti-Semitic and other hate speech. The company’s response was to sue the organization, a case that was ultimately dismissed. Similarly, the issue of American nonprofit media highlighted the rise of pro-Nazi tweets, along with branded advertisements, in a report preceding the exit of major advertisers from the platform.

Noteworthy was Musk’s alleged Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration rally in early 2025. Musk dismissed this claim, joking about it on X with Nazi-themed puns. Musk’s humor further damaged the platform’s reputation, contributing to a noticeable rightward shift that prompted many users to migrate to alternative platforms like Bluesky and Reddit communities, where X’s links started being banned.

The promise of X’s activation

Upon joining X, Yaccarino aimed to forge partnerships with celebrities to revitalize the social network’s brand and mend the damage inflicted by Musk’s controversial acquisition. Musk had long envisioned creating X as an “everything app” blending payments, AI, messaging, live streaming, and other features while also assigning Yaccarino the task of enhancing public posts for the network.

Yaccarino sought media personalities for platform features, leading a delegation of executives, including Musk, to engage with industry leaders at the Cannes Lions Festival in 2023.

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One of Yaccarino’s initiatives aimed at creating a platform she envisioned as a “global town square,” as she reached out to former CNN host Don Lemon and welcomed former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to contribute content. The inaugural interview on Lemon’s platform was with Musk, designed to showcase X’s shift to attract prominent creators. However, the plan faltered when the conversation shifted to contentious topics, leading to Musk informing Lemon’s agent that his contract had been terminated. Future collaborations with high-profile creators were never realized.

Over the next two years, instead of becoming the mainstream streaming powerhouse or “all apps” destination that Yaccarino had promoted, X devolved into a platform primarily for Musk to amplify his grievances, collaborate with Trump, and promote his ventures. Far-right influencer Porn Spam Bot meme accounts proliferated, leaving numerous media outlets marginalized or entirely excluded from the platform. Misinformation and extremism surged, occasionally originating from Musk himself.

The day before Yaccarino resigned, X became embroiled in a scandal encapsulating much of the platform’s evolution. Musk announced plans to revamp Xai’s chatbot, Grok. On Tuesday, users observed that the chatbot began replying to inquiries with overtly anti-Semitic comments glorifying Nazi ideology. An outpouring of users began sharing screenshots of Grok endorsing rape fantasies while referring to themselves as “Mechahitler,” prompting the company to delete the offensive posts.

Incidents like Grok’s venture into Nazism contributed to Yaccarino’s struggles to revitalize X. While she successfully attracted some major companies to resume advertising last year, the platform’s advertising revenue never approached pre-Musk levels, as suggested by research from eMarketer. Furthermore, it was reported that the platform had threatened large companies like Verizon with legal action if they did not purchase ads. This claim was categorically denied by Jaccarino in a Wall Street Journal report.

After two years of damage control over numerous issues with Musk and the platform, Musk issued a brief statement acknowledging her resignation.

“Thank you for your contribution,” Musk commented on Yaccarino’s resignation announcement. Moments later, he began responding to posts about SpaceX, AI, and his chatbot’s anti-Semitic incidents.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Apple Files Lawsuit to Challenge “Unprecedented” €500 Million EU Fine Related to App Store

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Apple has initiated an appeal against the “unprecedented” €500 million (£430 million) fine imposed by the EU in the latest confrontation between US tech giants and Brussels.

The iPhone manufacturer has accused the European Commission (the EU’s executive body) of exceeding legal boundaries in the ongoing dispute regarding the App Store.

In April, the EU fined Apple €500 million after determining that the company infringed the Digital Markets Act by hindering app developers from offering cheaper transactions outside of the App Store.

Last month, Apple revised its App Store policies to comply with EU directives, adjusting technical and commercial terms for developers to avert a potential daily penalty of 5% of average earnings—approximately €50 million each day.

Consequently, Apple has launched a new pricing model for App Store developers. On Monday, the company accused Brussels of using “confusing” business language to sidestep the risk of fines.

“We are appealing today because we believe the European Commission’s decision and its extraordinary fines exceed what the law demands,” Apple stated, announcing its appeal to the General Court, the EU’s second-highest tribunal. “Our appeal highlights that the EC is dictating how we manage our stores, leading to confusion among developers and unfavorable conditions for users.”

Apple also charged the Commission with unlawfully broadening its interpretation of “steering,” impacting the language and methods developers can use to direct consumers outside the App Store.

The company highlighted that EU regulators have altered their definitions, not only questioning if app developers can link to outside websites but also if in-app promotions are permissible.

Peter Navarro, former senior trade adviser to Donald Trump, criticized the EU for employing “laws” against prominent US tech firms, describing the regulatory actions against American entities like Apple and Meta as part of a series of “non-tariff weapons” against the US.

In March, Hectan Wilkunen, vice president of the European Commission, asserted that the EU would maintain technical regulations to avoid compromising a trade deal with the US. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg accused the EU of “institutionalizing censorship” through digital regulations.

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Trump established a deadline of July 9th, sealing a trade arrangement with the EU, which also involves a threat of imposing a 50% tariff on the US if no agreement is finalized.

Tom Smith, a competitive attorney at Geradin Partners and former legal director of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, stated that Apple “fundamentally disapproves” of the changes implemented in the App Store.

“The stark reality is that the company is willing to invest millions in legal fees to obstruct and delay the establishment of a more open app ecosystem.”

The European Commission has been approached for comments.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solar Astronomers Obtain Unprecedented Details in Images and Videos of the Sun’s Corona

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A new “coronal adaptive optics” system has been developed by astronomers at the NSF’s National Solar Observatory and New Jersey Institute of Technology to generate high-resolution images and films by eliminating atmospheric blurring.

This image captures a 16-minute time-lapse film that illustrates the formation and collapse of a complex plasma stream measuring approximately 100 km per 100 km in front of a coronal loop system. This marks the first observation of such flows, referred to as plasmoids, raising questions about the dynamics involved. The image, taken by a Good Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory with the new coronal adaptive optics system CONA, showcases hydrogen α light emitted by the solar plasma. While the image is artificially colored, it reflects the real color of hydrogen alpha light, with darker colors indicating bright light. Image credit: Schmidt et al. /njit /nso /aura /nsf.

The solar corona represents the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, visible only during a total solar eclipse.

Astronomers have long been fascinated by its extreme temperatures, violent eruptions, and notable prominence.

However, Earth’s atmospheric turbulence has historically caused blurred images, obstructing the observation of the corona.

“Atmospheric turbulence, similar to the sun’s own dynamics, significantly degrades the clarity of celestial observations through telescopes. Fortunately, we have solutions,” stated Dr. Dark Schmidt, an adaptive optics scientist at the National Solar Observatory.

CONA, the adaptive optics system responsible for these advancements, corrects the atmospheric blurring affecting image quality.

This cutting-edge technology was funded by the NSF and implemented at the 1.6-meter Good Solar Telescope (GST) located at Big Bear Solar Observatory in California.

“Adaptive optics function similarly to autofocus and optical image stabilization technologies found in smartphone cameras, fixing atmospheric distortions rather than issues related to user instability,” explained Dr. Nicholas Golsix, optical engineer and lead observer at Big Bear Solar Observatory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzsn39nigg0

Among the team’s remarkable discoveries are films showcasing a significant reconstruction of the sun, revealing subtle turbulent internal flows.

The Sun’s structure presents as a prominent bright feature, often illustrated by arches and loops that extend from its surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ10DLB2pp94

The second film depicts the rapid creation and collapse of a finely detailed plasma stream.

“These observations are the most detailed of their kind, highlighting features that were previously unobserved, and their nature remains unclear,” remarked Vasyl Yurchyshyn, a professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Creating an instrument that allows us to view the sun like never before is incredibly exciting,” Dr. Schmidt commented.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1wrkychpru

The third film illustrates the delicate chains of coronal rain, a phenomenon wherein cooled plasma condenses and falls back towards the sun’s surface.

“Coronal rain droplets can measure less than 20 km in width,” noted Dr. Thomas Shadd, an astronomer at the National Solar Observatory.

“These discoveries provide vital observational insights that are crucial for validating computer models of coronal phenomena.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydst2wvx3de

Another film captures the dynamic movements across the solar surface, influenced by solar magnetism.

“The new Collar Adaptive Optical System closes the gap from decades past, delivering images of coronal features with resolution down to 63 km. This is the theoretical limit achievable with the 1.6 m Good Solar Telescope,” Dr. Schmidt stated.

“This technological leap is transformative. Discoveries await as we improve resolution tenfold,” he emphasized.

The team’s findings are detailed in a published paper in today’s issue of Nature Astronomy.

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D. Schmidt et al. Observation of fine coronal structures with higher order solar adaptive optics. Nature Astronomy Published online on May 27, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02564-0

Source: www.sci.news

Doctors say Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis is unusual, but not unprecedented.

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New information regarding former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis indicates that while his case is not common, it is not entirely unheard of, according to the healthcare professionals who treated him.

At 82, Biden received a diagnosis of aggressive cancer on Friday after a nodule was found in his prostate, his personal staff announced. The cancer has spread to his bones, but his office stated that he is likely to respond well to treatment.

Most prostate cancer diagnoses occur at an early stage through routine screenings, which may include blood tests or rectal exams.

However, approximately 8% of cases have already metastasized to other organs by the time of diagnosis. In such instances, oncologists believe the patient may have had prostate cancer for several years, possibly up to a decade.

“We’ve encountered numerous patients facing significant health challenges,” stated Dr. William Dahoot, chief science officer at the American Cancer Society.

That said, exceptions exist.

“While most prostate cancers are slow-growing, some can develop rapidly and pose a high risk of metastasis,” explained Dr. Aron Weiser, a urologist and chief medical officer. “Is it common? No. But it can occur, dependent on the unique biology of that cancer.”

Screening facilitates early detection, yet there is disagreement among healthcare professionals regarding who should be screened for prostate cancer.

Many physicians refrain from screening men in their late 70s or 80s, as these individuals are generally more likely to die from other medical issues than prostate cancer. Nevertheless, with increasing life expectancies, some doctors consider screening appropriate for healthier older men.

According to the American Cancer Society’s recommendations, men in their 50s and 60s should be screened every two years. Men with elevated levels of prostate-specific antigens—a protein made by the prostate—should undergo annual screenings. Additionally, men at higher risk for prostate cancer, such as African Americans or those with a family history of the disease, should begin screening in their 40s.

However, current guidelines from the U.S. Task Force on Preventive Services, an independent panel that advises on practices often covered by insurance, state that men aged 55 to 69 should only consider discussing blood tests with their physicians. The task force is currently reviewing new screening guidelines for prostate cancer, with many healthcare providers advocating for a broader recommendation.

Weiser noted that there was a broader screening approach in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leading to premature diagnoses and treatments that may not have impacted patients’ lives. The 2012-2018 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended blood tests to help identify prostate cancer, resulting in decreased screening rates.

“Prostate cancer behaves differently; many cases are benign, not causing issues for individuals,” Weiser remarked. “The goal should be to identify aggressive cancers.”

In recent years, there has been a shift back toward increased screening as doctors have improved their understanding of which cases require treatment versus those that should be monitored.

Nevertheless, Dahut expressed ongoing concerns among patients and physicians about whether the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Screening rates have declined steadily since 2012, and Dahut notes that this trend has led to a 5% increase in diagnoses of more advanced prostate cancer.

It remains unclear whether Biden has undergone prostate cancer screenings in recent years. His annual physical examination in February 2024 did not indicate a screening was performed, which is not unusual for someone of his age. A physical exam in 2019 revealed an enlarged prostate but did not lead to a cancer diagnosis at that time.

Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist based in New York, stated that Biden’s advanced diagnosis is atypical among patients who are screened regularly.

“It is rare for metastasis to have occurred in someone who regularly sees a urologist,” he said.

Diagnosis is often more prevalent in individuals who do not maintain regular medical consultations. Rick Gum is one such case; he was never screened before his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018. Gum, a 73-year-old trucking company owner from Big Rock, Illinois, initially sought care for a hernia but was found to have aggressive cancer that had spread to his bones.

“I learned the hard way,” he remarked. “I should have visited the doctor.”

Gum noted that his cancer was too advanced for standard treatment, prompting his participation in various clinical trials at Northwest Medicine, which included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and treatments involving radioisotopes.

“I’ve enjoyed seven excellent years since my diagnosis,” he reflected. “They’ve been quality years. I ride motorcycles, travel a bit, and love my work. I’ve been able to do it all.”

According to the American Cancer Society, around 37% of patients with metastatic prostate cancer survive at least five years post-diagnosis.

Dr. Peter Nelson, vice president of precision oncology at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, mentioned that patients like Biden could have over a 90% response rate to treatments that lower testosterone—a hormone that can promote cancer growth. These hormonal therapies are typically administered through injections or tablets.

“He may start with multiple medications and anticipate several years of effective treatment before any resistance develops,” Nelson noted. Some patients also receive chemotherapy or radiation in conjunction with hormone therapy, he added.

According to sources familiar with the family’s perspective, Biden and his family are exploring “multiple treatment options,” including hormone therapy.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Exploring Unprecedented Universes: Using Ultra-Fast Measurements with Nuclear Clocks

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Humans have been striving to measure the world we live in for a long time. Our measurement systems and units help us comprehend ourselves and our environment, whether we are dealing with basic physics theories or not.

When we measure something, we compare it to a standard benchmark to ensure accuracy and stability. The current benchmark for time is the atomic clock, which relies on the precise energy levels of electrons in an atom.

Atomic clocks, however, have limitations due to environmental factors affecting the energy levels within the atom. This has led to the exploration of nuclear clocks, especially using the rare thorium-229 isotope.

Thorium-229 has unique characteristics that make it an ideal candidate for creating nuclear clocks. Its nucleus has closely spaced energy levels that can provide more stable measurements of frequency and time compared to atomic clocks.

The recent advancements in using thorium-229 for nuclear clocks have opened up new possibilities for accurate time measurements and potential breakthroughs in fundamental physics theories.

Why go to the nuclear?

Nuclear clocks offer greater stability and accuracy compared to atomic clocks due to the small size of the nucleus and reduced influence from external factors. By utilizing thorium-229 and its unique energy levels, nuclear clocks can revolutionize time measurements.

These advancements in time measurement are not only essential for navigation and communication systems but also play a crucial role in testing fundamental physics theories such as relativity.

Accurate clocks can also help in exploring dark matter and understanding its interactions with normal matter. Nuclear clocks provide a more precise benchmark for detecting the effects of dark matter on time measurements.

What’s next?

The next step after harnessing thorium-229 for nuclear clocks is to develop a functional and reliable clock system. This involves stabilizing a laser to the frequency corresponding to nuclear energy levels and constructing a robust clock design.

While there are challenges in developing nuclear clocks, the potential for unprecedented accuracy in time measurement is promising. These advancements require in-depth calculations and understanding of fundamental forces like quantum chromodynamics (QCD).

Overall, the progress in nuclear clocks signifies a new era in precise timekeeping and could lead to significant advancements in our understanding of the universe and fundamental physics theories.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

CAR T cells achieve an unprecedented 18-year remission in neurocarcinoma

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Microscopic images of neuroblastoma tumors

Simon Belcher/Aramie

Cancer therapy using genetically modified immune cells called CAR T cells has maintained people without potentially fatal neurotumors for a record 18 years.

“This is, to my knowledge, the longest lasting complete remission among patients who have received T-cell therapy in their car,” he says. Karin Stratoff At University College London, where he was not involved in treatment. “This patient will be cured,” she says.

Doctors use CAR T-cell therapy to treat certain blood cancers, such as leukemia. To do this, they collect samples of T cells that form part of the immune system from the patient's blood and genetically manipulate them to target and kill cancer cells. The modified cells are then returned to the body. In 2022, a follow-up study found that this approach was in remission for two people with leukemia for about 11 years.

However, CAR T-cell therapy usually fails against solid tumors such as neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma occurs when developing neurons in children and usually becomes cancerous before the age of five. Such tumors often resist being attacked by the immune system, reducing the effectiveness of the modified T-cell.

This is the reason Cliona Rooney At Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and her colleagues were surprised that people with neuroblastoma in childhood treated with CAR T cell therapy as part of their 2005 trial remained in control of cancer. . 18 years later. “These results were amazing. It's very rare to get a complete response from neuroblastoma with this approach,” says Rooney.

The person was treated at age 4 after several chemotherapy and radiation therapy failed to completely eradicate the cancer. At the time, the team also treated 10 other people who were in the same condition that the cancer had recurred after standard treatment, and they all had virtually no side effects, says Rooney. One of these participants showed no signs of cancer before dropping out of the study nearly nine years later, making follow-up impossible. The remaining nine participants eventually died from cancer. This was mainly killed within a few years of receiving treatment.

It is unclear why some people responded much better than others. “That's a million dollar question. I really don't know why,” Rooney says.

One reason is that each individual's T-cell behaves slightly differently depending on a variety of lifestyle factors, such as their genetics, prior exposure to infections, and diet, Rooney says. In fact, the team found that CAR T cells last longer in the blood among longer surviving participants.

Another explanation is that some participants' tumors were more immunosuppressive and strongly resisted T cells in the car, Rooney says.

The Rooney team is now looking for new ways to design cells so that it can benefit more people. “We have to improve them and make them stronger without increasing toxicity,” she says.

Such efforts are likely to lead to even greater success, Straathof says. “Now we have a glimpse of what is possible.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Vista achieves unprecedented detail in capturing images of the RCW 38

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The astronomer using it Telescope for ESO visible infrared investigation telescopes (Vista) created something amazing 80 million pixel images Star cluster RCW 38.

This Vista/Vircam Image shows the Superstar Cluster RCW 38. Image credit: ESO/VVVX survey.

RCW 38 is an approximately superstar cluster 5,500 light years They are separated by Vera's constellation.

It is the youngest of the 13 superstar clusters in the Milky Way (less than one million years) and is the dense stellar system in 13,000 light years from the Sun.

Includes hundreds of young, hot, giant stars and brown dwarfs.

RCW 38 is a “embedded” cluster in that new clouds of dust and gas still envelop the stars.

The intense radiation poured from the newly born stars makes the surrounding gas bright and bright.

This is in stark contrast to the cool, cosmic dust streams that engulf the region.

“Compared to our Sun, which is at a stable stage in that life about 4.6 billion years ago, the RCW 38 star is still very young,” the ESO astronomer said in a statement.

“In less than a million years, RCW 38 contains around 2,000 stars, creating this psychedelic landscape.”

“The cluster of stars is like a giant pressure cooker, and contains all the ingredients for star formation: dense gas clouds and opaque masses of cosmic dust. This mixture of gas and dust itself If it collapses under the gravity of the 'stars','

“The strong radiation from these newborn stars creates the gas that brightens up the glow of the star cluster, creating the pink tint you see here.”

“It's a truly spectacular sight! But in visible light, many of the stars in the RCW 38 cluster remain hidden from us, and dust blocks those views.”

That's where the Vista telescope appears. Its Vircam camera observes infrared rays that can pass through almost unobstructed dust, unlike visible light, and reveals the true richness of the RCW 38.

“We also see a cold “failed” star known as a young star, or a brown dwarf, in a dusty coco,” the astronomer said.

“This infrared image was taken during that time. Vista variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) surveycreated the most detailed infrared map of Home Galaxy ever made. ”

“Studies like this either reveal unknown astronomical objects, or give us a new perspective on known objects.”

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers achieve unprecedented level of detail in creating gravitational wave background map

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array, an international experiment using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, have discovered further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from supermassive black hole mergers.

miles others. Created the most detailed map of gravitational waves throughout the universe to date. Image credit: Carl Knox / OzGrav / Swinburne University of Technology / South African Radio Astronomical Observatory.

“Our research opens up new avenues for understanding the universe we live in,” said astronomer Dr Matt Miles from the ARC Gravitational Wave Discovery Center (OzGRav) and Swinburne University of Technology. .

“By studying the background, we can listen to the echoes of cosmic events over billions of years. It reveals how galaxies and the universe itself have evolved over time.”

The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array observes and times pulsars (fast-spinning neutron stars) with nanosecond precision.

Pulsars act as natural clocks, and their steady pulses allow scientists to detect minute changes caused by passing gravitational waves.

This galaxy-scale detector provides the opportunity to map gravitational waves across the sky, revealing patterns and intensities that defy previous assumptions.

“The gravitational wave background is often thought to be uniformly distributed across the sky,” says Rowena Nathan, an astronomer at Ozgrab University and Monash University.

“The galaxy-sized telescope formed by the MeerKAT pulsar timing array allows us to map the structure of this signal with unprecedented precision, potentially revealing insights into its source.”

Astronomers have found further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from merging supermassive black holes, capturing a signal more powerful than a similar global experiment in just one-third of the time.

“What we’re seeing suggests a much more dynamic and active Universe than we expected,” Dr. Miles said.

“We know that supermassive black holes are merging off Earth, but now we’re starting to know where they are and how many there are.”

Researchers used pulsar timing arrays to improve existing methods to build highly detailed gravitational wave maps.

This map revealed an interesting anomaly: an unexpected hotspot in the signal, suggesting a possible directional bias.

“The presence of a hotspot could point to a distinct source of gravitational waves, such as a pair of black holes billions of times more massive than the sun,” Nathan said.

“Looking at the arrangement and pattern of gravitational waves tells us how our universe exists today and contains signals from around the time of the Big Bang.”

“While there is still more work to be done to determine the significance of the hotspots we discovered, this is an exciting step forward for our field.”

“These discoveries raise exciting questions about the formation of supermassive black holes and the early history of the universe.”

“Further monitoring by the MeerKAT array could improve these gravitational wave maps and reveal new cosmic phenomena.”

“The research also has broader implications, with data that could help international scientists explore the origin and evolution of supermassive black holes, the formation of galactic structures, and even hints at early cosmic events. provided.”

The results were published in three papers. Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

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Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: 4.5 Years of Data Release and Noise and Stochastic Signals in the Millisecond Pulsar Population. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2572

Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: The first search for gravitational waves with the MeerKAT radio telescope. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2571

Kathryn Grandthal others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: Map of the gravitational wave sky with 4.5 years of data released. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2573

Source: www.sci.news

Einstein’s theory proved correct on unprecedented scale in historical test

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

DESI instrument observing the sky from the Nicholas U. Mayall telescope during a meteor shower

KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Sparks

Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity has been proven correct on the largest scale ever. Analysis of millions of galaxies showed that the way they evolved and clustered over billions of years was consistent with his predictions.

Ever since Einstein proposed his theory of gravity more than a century ago, researchers have been trying to find scenarios in which the theory of gravity doesn't hold true. However, no such test had ever been performed at the level of the longest distances in the universe. Mustafa Ishak-Bushaki At the University of Texas at Dallas. He and his colleagues conducted the experiment using data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI) in Arizona.

The details of the structure of the universe and how it has changed over time provide a powerful test of how well we understand gravity. Because it was this force that shaped galaxies as they evolved from small fluctuations in the distribution of matter in the early universe.

DESI has so far collected data on how nearly 6 million galaxies have come together over the past 11 billion years. Ishak-Boushaki and his colleagues combined this with the results of several other large-scale surveys, including the cosmic microwave background radiation and supernova mapping. They then compared this to the predictions of a theory of gravity that encompasses both Einstein's ideas and more modern modified theories of gravity. They did not discover any deviations from Einstein's gravity. Ishak-Boushaki says that while there is some uncertainty in the measurements, there is still no strong evidence that theories that deviate from Einstein's can more accurately capture the state of the universe. .

Itamar Allari Professors at Brown University in Rhode Island say that although general relativity has been shown to hold up in very precise tests performed in the laboratory, it is important that it can be tested at all scales, including the entire universe. states. This eliminates the possibility that Einstein correctly predicted objects of one size but not others, he says.

The new analysis also provides hints about how dark energy, the mysterious force thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe, fits into theories of gravity. Nathalie Palanque-Dravuille At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California. Einstein's early formulations of general relativity included a cosmological constant (a type of antigravity that plays the same role as dark energy), but earlier DESI results showed that dark energy is not constant. It suggested that. That may have changed as the universe aged, Palanque-Delabouille said.

“The fact that we see that we agree; [general relativity] And any deviation from this cosmological constant opens up a Pandora's box of what the data can actually tell us,” says Ishak Boushaki.

DESI will continue to collect data for several more years, eventually recording the locations and properties of 40 million galaxies, which the three scientists agree will support the theory of general relativity and dark energy. He said it would be clear how to combine them correctly. This new analysis used only one year of data from DESI, but in March 2025 the team plans to share findings from the instrument's first three years of observations.

Allari said these results could help pinpoint changes in the Hubble constant, a measure of the rate of expansion of the universe, narrow down the mass of elusive particles called neutrinos, and even search for new particles. He said he expects it to be significant in this important respect. Cosmic components such as “dark radiation”.

“This analysis will have implications not just for gravity, but for cosmology as a whole,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Reports show that an unprecedented failure led to the collapse of a world-famous radio telescope in Puerto Rico.

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Four years after the radio telescope at Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory collapsed. Report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sheds light on the unprecedented failures that led to its destruction.

A steel cable supporting the telescope’s 900-ton receiver platform came loose after a zinc-filled socket built to support it failed, according to a report released Oct. 25. That’s what it means.

The report said the failure was caused by excessive “zinc creep,” a phenomenon in which the metal used to protect the socket from corrosion and rust deforms over time and loses its grip.

The zinc gradually lost its hold on the cable suspending the telescope’s main platform above the reflector dish. This caused multiple cables to be pulled from their sockets, ultimately causing the platform to crash into a reflector more than 400 feet below, according to the report.

Roger L. McCarthy, chairman of the committee for the analysis of the causes of failure and collapse of Arecibo’s 305-meter telescope, said, “This type of failure has been the most common occurrence in more than a century, when zinc spelter sockets have been widely and successfully used. This has never been reported before.” The observatory wrote in its report:

The committee that prepared the report said there was insufficient data to definitively prove the exact cause of the acceleration of “zinc creep.” The only hypothesis the committee was able to develop based on the data was that low current electroplastic effects were responsible. In other words, the constant current flowing through the socket could have strengthened the plastic behavior of the metallic zinc and, as a result, weakened its grip.

The committee reviewed an array of documents commissioned by the University of Central Florida and the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that owns the observatory, including a forensic investigation, structural analysis, engineering plans, inspection reports, photographs, and repair proposals. Reach that conclusion. They also gathered information from Arecibo Observatory employees, other “related research” sources, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. I mentioned this in a media advisory last month..

The commission also issued a series of recommendations in its report. These include making the remaining sockets and cable sections of the radio telescope available for further research and increasing careful monitoring of aging research facilities to detect deterioration and potential new failure modes. Included.

The telescope was used to track asteroids as they headed toward Earth, conduct research that led to Nobel Prizes, and determine whether planets were potentially habitable. It also functions as a training venue for graduate students, and is visited by approximately 90,000 people annually.

The telescope was built in the 1960s with funding from the Department of Defense during the development of ballistic missile defense. In its 57 years of operation, it has withstood hurricanes, tropical humidity, and a recent series of earthquakes.

The observatory began to collapse in August 2020 when an auxiliary cable snapped, damaging the telescope’s antenna and the receiver platform suspended above it, according to the National Science Foundation. After several other cable failures, the federal agency decided to begin a plan to decommission the telescope in November 2020.

This transition did little to stop the telescope’s complete collapse on December 1, 2020.

In 2022, the National Science Foundation says: Puerto Rico’s famous radio telescope won’t be rebuilt. Instead, it called for a $5 million education center to be established in its place to promote programs and partnerships related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

nicole acevedo

Nicole Acevedo is a reporter for NBC Latino.

Associated Press contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

JUICE captures unprecedented image of Earth’s radiation belts

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In August 2024, ESA’s Jupiter ICy satellite probe (JUICE) made history with its daring Moon-to-Earth flight and double-gravity assisted maneuver. When the spacecraft passed the moon and the home planet, NASA’s Jupiter’s energetic neutrons and ions The (JENI) instrument aboard JUICE has captured the clearest images yet of Earth’s radiation belts, belts of charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetosphere.

The center of this infographic shows the clearest image yet of a cloud of charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field, and the inset shows high-energy images detected along JUICE’s flight path. Measurements of ions and electrons are shown. Image credit: ESA / NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / Josh Diaz.

“The moment we saw the clear new image, the whole room erupted in high-fives,” said Dr. Matina Goukiuridou, JENI deputy director at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

“It was clear that we had captured the giant ring of hot plasma surrounding Earth in unprecedented detail, and this result has sparked excitement about what’s to come on Jupiter.”

Unlike traditional cameras that rely on light, JENI uses special sensors to capture high-energy neutral atoms emitted by charged particles that interact with hydrogen gas in the widespread atmosphere surrounding Earth. Masu.

The JENI instrument is the latest generation of this type of camera and builds on the success of similar instruments in NASA’s Cassini mission, which revealed the magnetospheres of Saturn and Jupiter.

August 19th, JENI and its companion particle measuring instrument Jupiter’s energetic electrons (JoEE) made the most of his brief 30-minute encounter with the moon.

As JUICE zoomed just 750 km (465 miles) above the lunar surface, the instrument collected data about the space environment and its interactions with our closest celestial companion star.

Scientists expect this interaction to be magnified and observed on Jupiter’s moons as the gas giant’s radiation-rich magnetosphere passes over them.

On August 20, JUICE entered Earth’s magnetosphere, passing approximately 60,000 km (37,000 miles) over the Pacific Ocean. There, the instruments experienced for the first time the harsh environment that awaits them on Jupiter.

As JoEE and JENI raced through the magnetic tail, they encountered the dense, low-energy plasma typical of the region before plunging into the heart of the radiation belt.

There, instruments measured the millions of degrees of plasma surrounding Earth to investigate the secrets of plasma heating, which is known to drive dramatic phenomena in planetary magnetospheres.

“We couldn’t have expected a better flyby,” said Dr. Pontus Brandt, principal investigator for JoEE and JENI at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

“The wealth of data we have obtained from our deep dive into the magnetosphere is amazing. JENI’s image of the entire system that we just flew was simply the best.”

“This is a powerful combination to leverage in the Jupiter system.”

_____

This article has been adapted from the original release by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Greenland landslide triggers unprecedented waves that reverberated across the globe for over a week

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Part of a mountain and glacier along Greenland’s Dikson Fjord in August 2023 (left), and the same location after a landslide in September 2023

Soren Lisgaard/Danish Army

On September 16, 2023, earthquake monitoring stations around the world picked up a strange signal that weakened over time but remained detectable for nine days.

“We thought, ‘Oh, this signal is still coming. This is definitely not an earthquake.'” Stephen Hicks Researchers at University College London have dubbed the object an “Unidentified Seismic Object,” or USO.

Hicks and his colleagues found that the signal was caused by water moving across the 1.7-mile-wide Dikson Fjord in eastern Greenland. The wave was triggered by a massive landslide, which produced a 360-foot-high tsunami.

Earthquake signals typically last only a few minutes and are a mix of different frequencies, Hicks said. USO’s frequency is about 11 millihertz and repeats every 90 seconds. When it became clear that the signal started at the same time as the Greenland landslide, Hicks and his colleagues thought there was probably a connection.

Many objects, such as bells, vibrate at a particular resonant frequency when struck. The same is true for bodies of water, from swimming pools to oceans. Disturbances such as earthquakes or wind can cause a body of water to shake, setting off a kind of standing wave called a seiche.

Based on its width and depth, the researchers calculated that Dikson Fjord has a resonant frequency of 11 millihertz, which matches the signal. What took them longer to figure out was why the fjord continued to oscillate for so long.

Immediately after the tsunami, the seiche rose seven metres on both sides of the fjord. Within a few days it receded to a few centimetres, but this was so small that it went unnoticed by a Danish navy ship sailing up the fjord three days after the landslide.

But the seiche didn’t stop, likely continuing long after the nine days had passed and becoming undetectable by distant seismic stations, Hicks said. “No seiche has ever been reported before that lasted that long or that the energy dissipated that slowly.”

The team’s computer modelling suggests that the shape of the fjord was a crucial factor: The landslide occurred 200 kilometres inland, and the fjord is blocked by a glacier at one end and curves sharply at the other. The fjord’s rounded bottom acts like a rocking chair, allowing the water to flow through with little resistance.

All these factors caused the wave to have a high degree of energy trapped inside, rather than dissipating quickly as it normally would, Hicks said.

The slide itself was a direct result of climate change. A steep glacier supported the mountainside. As the glacier thinned, it collapsed, sending an estimated 25 million cubic meters of rock and ice into the fjord. It was the first landslide ever recorded in eastern Greenland.

No one was in the area at the time, but cruise ships were traveling up the fjord. The tsunami destroyed equipment used to monitor the area and two abandoned hunting lodges.

As the planet continues to warm, we’ll likely see more of these kinds of landslides, Hicks said, noting that the findings show that climate change is affecting not just the atmosphere and oceans, but also the ground beneath our feet. “For the first time, we’re looking down at our feet and seeing some of the devastating effects of climate change,” he said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

‘Unthinkable and unprecedented’: Tower falls after nuts are taken off

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Nut deficiency

What happens when you remove most of the nuts from the bolts on three of the four sides of a tall electricity pylon? New data answers that question.

News Hub report Police said a tower collapsed in Glorito, North Island, New Zealand on June 24 after a “maintenance worker” removed some nuts from the bolts connecting the tower to its base plate.

News footage shows TransPower CEO Alison Andrew reading aloud what is likely a carefully worded statement: “In our view, the specifications and procedures for this type of work were not followed. All of the nuts securing the tower to the base plate at all three legs had been removed, causing the tower to lift off the base plate and fall. It is unprecedented and inconceivable that so many nuts would have been removed at one time.”

The outcome of the Glolitt nut removal could have been predicted by applying textbook engineering principles, but apparently it was not.

Hold on to your hat

The phrase “Hats are hard to get in Ireland” was featured in a magazine article. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology – This does not refer to all hats, but to some hats, especially sun hats.

Marion Leahy and her colleagues at Galway University Hospital have used the phrase title A 2022 study into risky head conditions in men, particularly older men, in the West of Ireland.

They note that Irish men are demographically at higher risk of melanoma and traditionally wear hats to protect themselves, but that “most hats available to the Irish male population are [do] “Does not provide adequate light protection.”

When properly chosen and worn, a hat can protect your head from the sun's relentless assault. In 1992, B. L. Diffie and J. Cheeseman penned a hymn in praise of a good sun hat and the evils of a bad sun hat: British Journal of DermatologyDiffie and Cheeseman's paper “Hats to protect against sunburn” is (or should be) famous for its main photo, so to cap off your viewing, try to find a copy online.

This portrait of scientific equipment runs counter to the typical image of rows of test tubes that has been implanted in children's minds for decades. The painting depicts six artificial heads at an angle, without plastic bodies or hair. They are outdoors, mounted at intervals along a 8-foot-long pole. Five of the six are wearing hats; the third head is bare. Each head is adorned with small squares of sunlight-degrading polysulfone film affixed with Blu-Tack to its forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and neck.

A second, less avant-garde photograph shows “28 hats worn in the study,” with seven hats or hat-like objects arranged in four rows. The styles range from a green plastic visor without a crown, an “airline pilot's peaked cap,” a “checked deerstalker,” and a “Russian fur hat.”

Diffie and Cheeseman would have us believe that much of this is dermatological insanity, manifesting itself under the hot sun.

Space superpowers

Bruce Stubbert reminds Feedback's ever-growing collection of little superpowers that talent alone doesn't guarantee success.

“I wanted to contribute to the discussion about psychic abilities in space,” he says. “My psychic sense of north is super impaired in the Northern Hemisphere, and I constantly find myself driving or walking in the opposite direction to what I intend to go.”

“Obviously the position of the sun plays a big role for these superpowers. Before you decide on a direction you have to stop and think: 'Here the sun is in the south'. I was once at a conference dinner in the US and talking to an American participant about this issue. He asked: 'Does the sun still rise in the east?' Incidentally, he was also incredulous that it was winter in Australia while we were enduring the scorching heat in Boston.”

The Limits of Goddam

Bapu Deokar and his colleagues explain the basics of water management at Goddam in their paper. Asian Journal of Environmental and Ecological Sciences“Estimation of water used for washing vehicles in Shrigonda town, India“When the dam's water level drops suddenly, local car washes explain their response by pumping more groundwater, which results in a drop in the groundwater table and a groundwater shortage,” the study warns.

Feedback learned the basics about Goud Dam by digging up a copy of a 1997 study called “Volcanic Vents in the Goud Dam Area,” a study that should be endearing given its title. Pune University JournalGoddam has been identified as being located “near Chinchini in the Poona district of India.”

recently, International Journal of Advanced Applied ResearchHanumant Dattatray Shinde of Shri Padmamani Jain College of Arts and Commerce said that in one year, “up to 1.56 TMC [thousand million cubic metres]” of water evaporates from the God Dam. Regardless of how you describe it, the “God Dam” or simply the “dam,” this structure lets a lot of water flow.

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

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You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Study finds that the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Earth’s Speed It’s getting warmer 2023 is the highest on record, beating last year’s astonishing 92%. Record-breaking heatwave Leading scientists have calculated that the cause is human.

A group of 57 scientists from around the world used UN-approved methods to investigate what’s behind it. Last year’s heatwaveThey said that even if the rate of warming has increased, they found no evidence of a significant acceleration of human-induced climate change beyond increased burning of fossil fuels.

Last year’s record temperatures were so extraordinary that scientists have been debating what’s behind the spike, whether climate change is accelerating or if other factors are at play.

“When we see the world accelerating or going through a major tipping point, things aren’t happening,” said Piers Forster, a climate scientist at the University of Leeds and lead author of the study. “Temperatures are rising and things are getting worse exactly as we predicted.”

A person sprays water at passersby on a hot summer day in Karachi, Pakistan on May 30, 2024.
Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images

This can mostly be explained by the buildup of carbon dioxide from increased fossil fuel use, he and his co-authors said.

Last year’s warming rate was 0.26C (0.47F) per decade, up from 0.25C (0.45F) the year before. Forster said that’s not a huge difference, but this year’s rate is the highest on record.

Still, outside scientists said the report paints a more alarming picture than ever before.

“While whether or not to tackle climate is a politically contentious issue, this report should remind people that it is actually a fundamentally life-saving choice,” said Andrea Dutton, a climate scientist at the University of Wisconsin who was not part of the international research team. “To me, that’s something worth fighting for.”

Ocean Beach in San Francisco during a heat wave warning in California on June 4, 2024.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

The authors, who formed to provide an annual scientific update between major UN scientific assessments every seven to eight years, concluded that last year’s temperature was 1.43 degrees Celsius higher than the 1850-1900 average, of which 1.31 degrees was due to human activities. The remaining 8 percent of warming was Mainly due to El NiñoThese include natural, temporary warming in the central Pacific Ocean that changes weather around the world, as well as unusual warming along the Atlantic Ocean and other weather randomness.

Looking at longer time frames — decade-by-decade, which scientists prefer over annual periods — the world has warmed about 1.19 degrees Celsius (2.14 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, the report said. Earth System Science Data Journal found.

The report also says that if the world continues to burn coal, oil and natural gas, the planet is likely to reach a point within four and a half years where it will become unavoidable to cross internationally accepted warming thresholds. 1.5℃ (2.7℃) ).

Students experience extreme heat at an elementary school in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on May 7, 2024.
Chaidir Mahyudin/AFP via Getty Images

This is consistent with previous studies that project that if emissions trajectory remains unchanged, the planet will reach at least 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming by early 2029. While reaching 1.5 degrees may be years away, it seems inevitable once all the carbon is used, Forster said.

Scientists say that going over 1.5 degrees won’t mean the end of the world or humanity, but it will be pretty dire. Past UN Studies Large-scale changes to Earth’s ecosystems are expected to become more likely with a warming of between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, ultimately resulting in the loss of the planet’s coral reefs, Arctic sea ice, plant and animal species, as well as more extreme and life-threatening weather events.

Last year’s temperature rise wasn’t just a minor spike — September was particularly unusual, said study co-author Sonia Seneviratne, head of the land climate dynamics department at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

A caged howler monkey receives treatment during a heatwave in Cunduacan, Mexico, on May 24, 2024. The heat was so severe that the monkey fell from a tree and died.
Jose Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images

Seneviratne said this year was at the higher end of the range but within expectations.

“If there was an acceleration, it would be even worse, perhaps a worst-case scenario, where the world would reach a tipping point,” Seneviratne said. “But what’s happening now is already very bad, and we’re already seeing big impacts. We’re in the middle of a crisis.”

Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Environmental Studies, and Zeke Hausfather, a global climate scientist at the University of Berkeley, neither of whom worked on the study, said they still see an acceleration in warming, which Hausfather noted is much faster than the 0.18 degrees Celsius (0.32 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade that occurred from 1970 to 2010.

Medical workers treat a dehydrated patient in Austin, Texas, 2023.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images file

The scientists Big increase in SeptemberHausfather called that “staggering.” Wednesday’s report didn’t find enough warming from other potential causes. It said that while reduced sulfur pollution from ships had some cooling effect on the atmosphere, that was offset last year by carbon particles released into the atmosphere by Canadian wildfires.

The report also noted that undersea volcanoes, which released huge amounts of heat-trapping water vapor into the atmosphere, also spewed cooling particles, with the two forces roughly cancelling each other out.

“The future is in our hands,” said Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University and chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy. “It’s up to us, humans, not physicists, to decide how fast and how much the Earth will warm.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Comet “Alcohol” May Cause Unprecedented Meteor Shower Tonight

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

There is a small chance that Earth could come into contact with a stream of debris from Comet 46P/Wiltanen between December 10th and 12th, coinciding with the beginning of the Geminid meteor shower peak.

This means that we might see a brand new meteor shower in 2023. According to Dr. Darren Baskill, an astrophysicist at the University of Sussex, a new study suggests that Earth could pass through the dust trail left by the comet in 1974 on December 12, 2023.

Mysterious highly active alcohol comet

Comet 46P/Wiltanen is a short-period “Jupiter system” comet that takes only 5.4 years to orbit the Sun. This family of comets is named after Jupiter because its orbit is primarily determined by the gas giant’s gravitational influence. The comet’s small size combined with its activity makes it a “hyperactive” comet, emitting more light than expected. Observations suggest that 40% of the nuclear surface is active, and it has released an unusually large amount of alcohol as well.

The comet was initially the target of the ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft, but the mission was delayed, and a new target was set: 67P/Churimov-Gerasimenko. The next closest approach of Comet Wirtanen is in May 2024.

A new meteor shower from Comet Wirtanen?

In 1974 and 1980, Comet 46P/Wiltanen released a meteor stream that has never before intersected Earth’s orbit. Recent encounters were also observed in 2007 and 2018. Modeling predicts another meteor shower encounter in December when Earth will pass through a denser part of the meteor stream. However, it is important to note that no meteor showers have been confirmed so far.

How to identify simultaneous meteor showers

To distinguish these potential “new” meteor showers from the Geminid meteor shower, the observed meteor radiance and velocity can help. The radiant point of this new shower is near a faint constellation in the southern sky, and the meteors are much slower than the Geminid meteors.

Dr. Baskill shares some tips on how to differentiate the Geminid meteor shower from these potential “new” meteor showers. He explains that the Geminid meteor originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and has larger dust particles.

The reliable Geminid meteor shower can help.

Dr. Baskill believes that the Geminid meteor shower is not likely to be overshadowed by this potential new meteor shower, as the number of meteors it will produce is highly uncertain. However, the Geminids will likely be the most abundant meteor shower this year.

Why now?

Dr. Baskill speculates that it is difficult to predict certain meteor showers due to factors such as the comet’s orbit changing over time and solar winds moving the dust streams.

About our expert Dr. Darren Baskill

Darren Baskill is an outreach officer and lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex. He previously lectured at the Royal Observatory Greenwich and was the organizer of the annual Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Defy the odds, create your own path, and achieve unprecedented success

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

art kreiskorn
Contributor

Tatchapong “Art” Climbing Cone Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Amity. Art earned her MBA from Cambridge University, where she worked for five years at IBM.

have something in common A story that repeats itself in the tech industry. A fast-growing startup emerges with a breakthrough concept, succeeds in raising incredible VC funding, and rockets to unicorn status. The company then fails to achieve sustainable profits and falls from glory within a few years (or even months). Despite a relative slowdown in VC activity, that story has continued over the last year, and usually reaches the same conclusion.
90% of startups fail 10% of them die within a year.

The numbers paint a grim picture, but one thing we know as innovators is that every challenge has a unique solution. Often, what holds entrepreneurs back is not money, but rather rapid growth and an over-obsession with flashy technology. This leads to neglecting to solve core business challenges and ultimately leads to a lack of stability and long-term profitability. Before investing in an attractive technology product, it is important to change this approach and prioritize providing reproducible solutions to relevant problems.

Suppose your objective is to introduce an innovative solution to a new niche problem in a way never seen before in the market. In that case, you don’t have to be bold. You need to be bold enough to believe in the company’s clairvoyance, and know enough about your field to maintain that level of confidence even to your face. A strong headwind.

Here’s how to start your own category to solve a niche problem

Identify your unique value proposition

When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or unexpected investments, the most important thing is to remain true to the company’s mission.

The most loved and valued companies have built categories that didn’t exist because they offer solutions that other companies can’t even imagine. There’s a reason Apple remains the most valuable company on the planet. The advent of iPhone happened when the user had to carry her iPod, mobile phone, laptop and planner separately. For the first time, a device has appeared that allows him to achieve all these items in one device.

Compare this to products like Threads. Threads is a simple modification of existing products. Unable to retain users. A sales pitch that says, “We’re offering the same product that’s already on the market, but with a few changes,” is much weaker than, “This is a solution that didn’t exist before.” In my career helping brands connect with their communities on platforms, I’ve seen this strategy yield greater benefits than copying existing solutions.

In 2018-2019, I began a journey to take on traditional social giants and provide an alternative way for brands to develop brand-centric communities online. At the time, Facebook had some notorious scandals regarding the misuse of personal data. Amity has set out on a mission to improve and democratize social networks, with the goal of building better social networks that foster active user interaction while respecting the privacy of user data.

Source: techcrunch.com

Unprecedented Level of Internal Structure Exposed by Groundbreaking Human Brain ‘Atlas’

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Global collaboration has led to the creation of the world’s most comprehensive primate brain atlas, consisting of 4.2 million cells. This atlas has provided insights into region-specific functions, associations with neurological diseases, and has guided future brain research and disease intervention. The project aims to explore the evolution of the human brain and discover new targets for disease treatment. The initiative, known as the “Brain Initiative Cell Census Network” project by the National Institutes of Health, has been working towards mapping the cell groups and understanding their functions for over 21 years. The recent breakthrough discovery has allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and the medical mysteries behind disorders such as autism and depression. The research team, led by scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and the Brotman Beatty Institute, created the largest atlas of the primate brain to date. The atlas consists of profiles of over 4 million cells, providing valuable information on the evolution of human cognition and behavior, as well as the occurrence of neurological diseases. The data collected has been made publicly available for the scientific community and the general public. The research team utilized state-of-the-art single-cell techniques and analyzed gene expression and DNA regulatory regions to identify molecularly distinct brain cell types and their functional characteristics. They also investigated the genetic architecture of neurological disease risk at the cellular level. The atlas serves as a crucial resource for further research on the human brain and potential interventions for neurological diseases.

Source: scitechdaily.com